Theatine Church, Munich

Theatine Church, Munich tickets: which one to buy

The Theatine Church of Saint Cajetan stands on the Odeonsplatz in the centre of Munich, opposite the Feldherrnhalle and beside the Residenz palace and the Hofgarten, and entry is free. Its bright yellow facade and twin towers are one of the most recognisable sights in Munich. Walking tours of Munich include the church along with the Residenz, the Hofgarten, the Feldherrnhalle, the Marienplatz and the Frauenkirche.

Sightseeing buses stop at the Odeonsplatz. The church is an active parish run by the Dominicans, with concerts and services, and visiting pauses during masses. The crypt of the Wittelsbach family is not usually open to the public, but it can sometimes be seen on special occasions. The Odeonsplatz is a lively square, and the Hofgarten behind it is a pleasant place to walk. The Odeonsplatz U-Bahn station is right beside the church.

Visiting Theatine Church, Munich: what to see

The church was built between 1663 and 1690 by the Elector Ferdinand Maria and his wife Henriette Adelaide of Savoy, in thanks for the birth of their son and heir, Max Emanuel, after years of waiting. It was designed by the Italian architects Agostino Barelli and Enrico Zuccalli, modelled on the Theatine mother church in Rome, Sant'Andrea della Valle, and it introduced Italian high baroque to Bavaria. The facade, completed in the eighteenth century by François Cuvilliés, is painted yellow, and the towers are topped with curved domes. Inside, the church is dazzling white, with rich stucco decoration of acanthus leaves, angels and figures, a large dome rising seventy-one metres, and a black pulpit that contrasts with the white interior.

The crypt holds the tombs of members of the Wittelsbach dynasty, including King Otto of Greece and King Maximilian II. The church's high altar holds a painting of the Holy Family by Caspar de Crayer. The side altars have paintings by Italian and Flemish masters. The stucco decoration of the interior was created by Giovanni Nicolò Perti and Abraham Leuthner. The dome's pendentives show the evangelists. The church's pulpit, carved in black wood, was made by Andreas Faistenberger. The crypt holds the tomb of Max Emanuel, whose birth inspired the church. The church's facade was restored in recent years, and its yellow colour was renewed. The church's bells ring for services. The towers are about seventy metres high.

Theatine Church, Munich opening hours and the best time to go

The church is open daily, with visits pausing during services. Munich is busy all year, especially during Oktoberfest in autumn and the Christmas markets in December. The Odeonsplatz hosts open-air concerts in summer, including performances by the Munich Philharmonic. Mornings are the quietest time. The Residenz palace museum and treasury next door are among the most impressive in Europe. Allow about twenty minutes for the church, and stroll in the Hofgarten or visit the Residenz. The Feldherrnhalle, opposite the church, is a loggia modelled on Florence's Loggia dei Lanzi.